Patrick cunningham



P. CUNNI AM.

Patented June 30,1891.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFCE.

PATRICK CUNNINGHAM, OF NE\V BEDFORD, MASSAOHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THEAMERICAN CARRIER ROOKET COMPANY.

ROCKET-PRIMER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. &55,278, dated June 30,1891.

Application filed November 5, 1889. Serial No. 329,320. (No model.)

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK CUNNINGHAM, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of New Bedforcl, in the county of Bristol and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRocket- Primers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates especially to devices Io employed for firingrockets, self-propelling projectiles, dc., and has for its object theprovision of a cheap, simple, and effective primer, easy to place inposition and sure in operation.

To attain the desired end my in vention con- 5 sists, essential] y, in atube provided at or near one eXtremity with a receptacle for fulminate,and means for producing friction for igniting the same, and at or nearthe opposite extrem: ity with an ofi'set or equivalent means for zeholding the primer in place when inserted in a vent, all of which willbe hereinafter first Iully described, and then pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings, Figu re 1 is a side elevation of my improved primer.Fig. 2 is an interior plan View of the fuse-piece of a rocket, showingmy primer Secured therein; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View at line xa; of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is an axial sectional view of the primer.

0 Like letters of reference wherever they occur indicate correspondingparts in all the gures A is a tube adapted to receive powder. B is areceptacle for fulminate.

C is a wire, roughened upon its inner end, passing through tube A intoand through re ceptacle B.

D is an eye upon wire C, to which a cord E n Ly be hooked or Securedwhen the primer 0 is to be fired.

F is a Washer firmly Secured to the tube A. I have shown a Washer orbutton as Secured to the tubeA; but said tube might be bent at its innerend in order to acconplish the same result.

In applying my approved primer it is passed into a vent H of afuse-piece G until the Washer, button, or oifset engages With theinterior of the fuse-piecevhen the tube is drawn outward, asparticularly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. To secure the primer againstdisplacement, a cork J or its equivalent is forced into the vent at theside of tube A. When in this position, the fulminate being ignited, thegases generated in the rocket Will at once force the cork out and withit the primer.

It Will thus be seen that my improved primer possesses many advantages.It is carried disconnected from the rocket and the same cannot beaccidentally discharged. It may be inserted for use in a moment and issure in action. It obviates delay, which must take place where theordinary fuse is employed, as no time is lost in procuring and applyingmeans for igniting the same, and, finally, wind and Water do notinterfere with or prevent its operation.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 4 1. A primer for rockets,in which is comprised a tube for containing fulminate and. powder, meansfor igniting the same by 'frietion, and a button or Washer fixed nearthe inner extremity of the tube and extending at right angles thereto,substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with the fuse-piece of a rocket, of a primer-tubeprovided with an engaging Washer or button near its inner extremity, anda cork or its equivalent for removably holding the primer in place,substantially as shown and described.

Signed at New Bedford, in the county of Bristol and State ofMassachusetts, this 6th day of September, A. D. 1889.

PATRICK CUNNINGHAM. lVitnesses:

ARTHUR M. PIERCE, S. D. llIOTT.

